What is the purpose of having the utilities turned on when the rental property is empty?

Like you, the last thing we want is to run into unexpected surprises. Keeping the utilities turned on while we are searching for a new tenant helps us avoid unpleasant surprises by giving the prospective tenant an opportunity to fully evaluate the property and test the amenities before they submit their application. The goal is to limit the amount of work that may be needed shortly after a tenant moves into the property. In addition, it also helps with showing the property by allowing us to turn on lights and demonstrate how to operate various things in the home that the prospective tenants may have questions about.